Chapter 77: Picked Up

Flattery hit the wrong mark, and Jia Ling felt a sudden wave of awkwardness. He hurriedly tried to salvage the situation: “The relationship between Your Highness and the Crown Princess is one of harmony and domestic bliss; sooner or later, you will have many children.”

Pei Xiao smiled and said, “It’s not as if the Heir doesn’t know—marital harmony is for outsiders to see. Hasn’t the Heir’s own household remained free of public scandal as well?”

“That’s true.” Jia Ling sighed. “One just muddles through the days. Whether the ‘lute and zither’ are in tune doesn’t really matter; it’s not as if we’re lacking that one woman. Speaking of which, I recently took in a girl at Qingluo Lane. She has such a supple waist and can sing like a lark—truly warbling and melodious.”

Jia Ling grinned. “If Your Highness likes, why not move the party to Qingluo Lane tonight? We can give it a try together?”

“Doing business right under our noses?” On the other side, Wei Meng nearly spat out his tea. He muttered under his breath, “Damned if I expected the Heir of the Marquis of Chongyuan to have such a hobby. Going to a brothel in a group—isn’t that disgusting?”

Pei Yuan kicked him and tilted his chin slightly, signaling for him to keep listening.

Pei Xiao politely declined Jia Ling, saying in a cool voice, “The Heir should enjoy himself to the fullest; I shall not participate.”

Jia Ling nodded regretfully but did not want to miss the chance to curry favor with Pei Xiao. To please a man, one either sends money or women. Which man isn’t lustful? Otherwise, why would an Emperor have a vast harem?

Jia Ling thought for a moment, leaned closer to Pei Xiao, and asked, “What kind of women does the Crown Prince like? Have you been tired lately? Do you need to unwind? It’s no boast, but out of every ten beautiful girls in the capital, I know seven of them. Plump or slender, beauties like Diaochan or Xi Shi—whatever the Prince likes, I can find her for you!”

Pei Xiao lowered his head to drink tea. Upon hearing those words, a face suddenly surfaced in his mind.

That day, by the broken bridge of the Xiao Ling River, a fresh and elegant girl had stood on her tiptoes, blowing leaves into the water. When she finished, she turned back with her eyes curved in a smile. It was an ordinary scene, yet he had remembered it for a long time, unable to forget it even if he wanted to. There was also that night at the Crown Prince’s manor, where she sat on the floor looking lost, on the verge of tears, gazing at him with watery eyes. There was no logical reason for it, but he simply couldn’t forget.

The impression had begun to fade, but Jia Ling’s mention of the subject brought it back. His fingers tightened around the handle of his teacup.

Jia Ling waited for an answer. After a long silence, he thought he wouldn’t get one and was racking his brain for a new topic when he suddenly heard Pei Xiao speak: “Running around outside every day is indeed quite tiring.”

He set the teacup down. “I like a girl who is more… relaxing. Someone who makes me feel at ease when I return home. That would be enough.”

Jia Ling gave a stiff laugh. “Your Highness must be joking. With a description like that, I’m afraid she might be impossible to find.”

Pei Xiao paused for a second, pressed his fist to his lips, coughed twice, and looked out the window.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Jia Ling felt that this Crown Prince was truly difficult to get along with—taciturn, cold, and unpredictable. He couldn’t even find a direction for his flattery.

He composed himself and raised his cup with a loud laugh. “Your Highness need not dwell on it. Once Your Highness possesses the realm in the future, beauties will naturally come flocking. I shall use tea in place of wine to wish that Your Highness obtains all your heart’s desires!”

…

“There’s definitely something wrong with his head.”

After Pei Xiao and Jia Ling had left one after another, and once the guards Pei Xiao had left at the teahouse to keep watch also departed, Pei Yuan and Wei Meng exited through the back door. Pei Yuan frowned and said, “Every word out of their mouths was utter nonsense. It’s sickening to listen to.”

Wei Meng asked, “Young General, are you talking about Jia Ling or Pei Xiao?”

“Birds of a feather, both the same.” Pei Yuan brushed his sleeves and turned his head to ask, “Did you take the pig’s trotter we ordered later? Don’t leave it behind. Also, those plates of osmanthus cakes and sweet glutinous rice balls—I need to take those home.”

Wei Meng patted the bulging bag in his hand. “Don’t worry, I’ve got them all!”

Pei Yuan nodded. Remembering something, he added, “Tell me, that Pei Xiao… is he dying? In the half-hour they spoke, I heard him cough no less than seven times. Back when ‘that incident’ happened, Pei Xiao was the one who tested the poison with his own body to save the Emperor. Could it be that the poison wasn’t fully purged?”

Wei Meng pondered for a moment. “Unlikely, right? The poison belonged to Gongsun Zhu, so the antidote must be in his hands. Pei Xiao isn’t a fool; why would he risk drinking a poison for which he had no antidote?”

Pei Yuan gave a cold sneer. “Not necessarily. With his temperament, he’d crawl to a high position even if it killed him. Whether he values his life, who knows? Besides, Gongsun Zhu might not have been willing to give him all the antidote. Pei Xiao is using the grandson to threaten him—not everyone is willing to be slaughtered like a lamb. Perhaps he’s plotting to kill Pei Xiao.”

Wei Meng said, “I truly wonder where Pei Xiao has hidden that grandson. He’s a living person, after all. To not let a single whisper get out is quite a feat.”

Pei Yuan said, “No rush. We’ll find him eventually if we look slowly.”

Wei Meng dropped the subject. He looked up at the sky and smiled. “It’s still early. Why don’t we find a place to have a drink? I see how strictly you’re managed usually; you must be craving it. This time, it’s my treat.”

“I’m in a hurry to get home. Go by yourself.” Pei Yuan went to the stable to fetch his horse. Seeing the tangled mane of Saifeng, he stroked it and thought to himself that he should give the horse a bath.

Wei Meng let out a whistle and mocked him sarcastically, “Married men really are different. In the past, weren’t you the one begging me to go drinking? You even had a fight with your eldest brother over it and smashed that imperial gift of blood coral. Now you’ve actually turned over a new leaf.”

Hearing him mention Pei Che, Pei Yuan’s movements to mount the horse paused for a moment.

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Wei Meng rubbed his nose. “Speaking of which, the disappearance of the former Crown Prince is also a mystery. Where could he have gone? But my guess is that the former Crown Prince is definitely still alive. He’s not the type of person who dies easily. The fact that he hasn’t contacted you must be due to the pressure of the situation. Young General, you don’t need to worry too much.”

Pei Yuan pulled the reins and leaped onto the horse. “I know.”

Wei Meng felt too embarrassed to go drinking alone now and fetched his own mount. “I’ll go back with you.”

Pei Yuan nodded, Wei Meng mounted, and the two set off side by side.

All the way out of the city, Wei Meng was pondering the matter of Pei Che.

Unlike Pei Yuan, Pei Che had been disciplined and well-mannered since childhood—a true image of a prince, gentle, refined, and very capable. However, Pei Che’s political views clashed with the Emperor’s. The Emperor was known for his iron fist and strict laws, while Pei Che leaned toward wu wei (governance through inaction) and educating the people through culture and rites. Therefore, the Emperor had always been quite dissatisfied with him. Pei Che had once been demoted to the Shu region for three years precisely because of a disagreement in political views with the Emperor.

Wei Meng suddenly thought of something and said, “The former Crown Prince has been missing for over half a year. His original residence was sealed; it must be overgrown with grass by now. I wonder where the female members of his inner court have ended up.”

Pei Yuan kept his eyes on the city gate not far away. “Probably sold off.”

“Then what about the former Crown Princess?” Wei Meng said. “I’ve heard that after the incident, the former Crown Princess went to her maiden home for help, but she was kicked out after only a few days. That old stubborn Minister Su is truly cold-hearted; he directly announced he was severing ties with her. Now, who knows where she has ended up? She might even be sleeping on the streets.”

Pei Yuan turned his head. “Why was she kicked out?”

“How should I know? Anyway, she was driven out.” Wei Meng gave a wry smile. “The relationship between the Crown Princess and the former Crown Prince was very good. If the former Crown Prince returns to the capital in the future and sees the women who followed him in such a state, how heartbroken he will be.”

Pei Yuan didn’t respond. The city gate was right ahead. Many beggars were begging in the corners of the streets, their clothes tattered and their scent foul. Even from a distance, the stench was overwhelming.

The guards at the gate, annoyed, were driving them away with spears.

Some women were screaming piteously. Wei Meng glanced over, and with just a casual look, his eyes widened as he caught sight of a certain face.

Unaware, Pei Yuan squeezed his horse’s belly with his legs, intending to speed away, when he was suddenly yanked by Wei Meng from behind.

Pei Yuan gasped, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Wei Meng pointed at one of the pregnant women who had been shoved and fallen to the ground, asking in disbelief, “That… doesn’t that person look like the former Crown Princess?”

Pei Yuan looked in the direction of his finger, his pupils shrinking.

…

By the time Pei Yuan returned to the manor at Lihu with Su Mingyou, it was already dusk.

Su Mingyou was eight months pregnant. Calculating the time, she must have conceived just as Pei Che was imprisoned. To accommodate her, the carriage moved very slowly.

Pei Yuan rode his horse beside the carriage, his face set sternly as he listened to Su Mingyou sobbing the entire way.

Pei Yuan hadn’t met this sister-in-law many times. He only had a vague memory of her face and knew she came from a scholarly family and had been chosen as Crown Princess for her grace and poise. He had no other impressions.

Meeting her on the road was a true coincidence—Wei Meng’s mouth was like it had been blessed—but it was ultimately a good thing. Pei Che’s whereabouts were unknown; to put it bluntly, in case he never returned, the child this sister-in-law was carrying would be Pei Che’s only bloodline. By logic and emotion, he should take care of her and be happy.

Su Mingyou was in a wretched state. In their brief conversation, he learned that after being kicked out by the Su family, she had gone south to seek refuge with a younger sister who had married far away, but she was kicked out again. A weak woman like her had spent all her money on the road, and her life thereafter was miserable. About a month ago, she had returned to the capital while pregnant, hoping to try her luck with the Su family once more, only to be driven out again. That was when she encountered Pei Yuan at the city gate.

Pei Yuan had some doubts. The family of Minister Su was known for being benevolent and upright. Even if they felt Su Mingyou’s special status might bring disaster to the family, they shouldn’t have been so heartless.

“Sister-in-law, you mustn’t hide anything from me.”

At the entrance of the manor, as the servants helped Su Mingyou out of the carriage, Pei Yuan stood aside holding his riding crop. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke with a cold face.

“If you hide things from me, don’t blame me for being unkind.”

This fourth brother was exactly as Pei Che had described—unsympathetic and capable of turning against his own kin when he lost his temper. Su Mingyou had heard of this, but facing his scrutinizing gaze, her heart still trembled.

However, Su Mingyou quickly regained her composure. She hadn’t done anything to wrong Pei Yuan; she had a clear conscience and nothing to fear.

She gave a formal bow and said in a weary tone with a faint smile, “Fourth Brother must be joking. Why would I hide anything from you? My past experiences are pathetic and embarrassing, but I have told them truthfully. You can rest assured. If you have doubts, feel free to investigate.”

Pei Yuan nodded. “I will investigate.”

Su Mingyou was choked by his blunt answer.

Pei Yuan called for servants to arrange a room for her. Keeping a step’s distance from Su Mingyou, he led the way. “Sister-in-law is tired. Go rest in your room first. Hot water and food will be ready soon. Just stay here at the manor peacefully from now on. Once Sister-in-law has rested well tomorrow, I will bring my wife to see you.”

Su Mingyou agreed, and the group walked slowly into the manor.

The child they had picked up was hungry, but he was a very picky eater and refused to eat. Following Bao Ning’s instructions, Chen Jia was squatting in the vegetable garden picking leeks, planning to grill them back at the courtyard. He saw Pei Yuan leading a woman toward them from a distance and felt puzzled.

Pei Yuan also saw him and stopped. Letting Su Mingyou go ahead, he beckoned Chen Jia over and asked, “Why are you here by yourself instead of guarding the Madam? What is the Madam doing? Sleeping?”

Chen Jia said, “The Madam is looking after the child.”

Pei Yuan was stunned. “Child? Where did a child come from? Whose child?”

Chen Jia said, “Picked up from the street.”

Pei Yuan frowned. “Which street?”

Chen Jia replied, “Don’t know it, don’t know the way, don’t know.”

Pei Yuan felt he was simply a fool. What he had liked about him initially was that he was dull and didn’t talk much; now it seemed he was excessively dull.

Pei Yuan looked back toward Bao Ning’s courtyard, waved his hand to dismiss Chen Jia, and said, “Tell the Madam I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”

Chen Jia went back carrying a bunch of leeks.

In the courtyard, the child they picked up had been bathed by Nanny Liu. He still looked listless and silent, staring blankly while sitting on a small stool.

Bao Ning leaned against the wall watching him, complaining to Nanny Liu, “The Fourth Prince isn’t back yet. He promised to be early, and it’s already dinner time. I’m worried something happened to him.”

Hearing this, Chen Jia respectfully handed the leeks to Bao Ning. “The Fourth Prince has returned.”

Bao Ning stood up straight in surprise. “You saw him? When did he get back?”

“Just now. He said he’d be in the courtyard within fifteen minutes.” Chen Jia reported everything he saw. “He also brought a woman back.”

Bao Ning froze. “Where did the woman come from?”

Chen Jia recalled Su Mingyou’s tattered and filthy clothes and, after a brief analysis, replied, “Perhaps she was also picked up.”

Sansukini: Happy New Year Dears. This is a late post coz we had to go visit relatives, dead and alive. So I’ll gift you guys a second chapter. Happy 2026! I wish everyone of us a much better year.

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